The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-19
ADVANCING THE CALENDARS
The Forward Condition of the General
Appropriation and Loan Bills.
Soldiers Monument Bill Passed by the Sem
ate, and That for the School of the Fee.
ble-Minded by the House.


The Democrats have been playing double
game in the matter of forwarding the work OF
the General Assembly. Entrenched behind
majority in the Senate, they could rely on that
to work at cross purposes with the majority of
the House, and to prevent the Republicans of
the latter from doing too much in the way of
legitimate legislative business if all the resources
of ilibustering opposition were called into ope-
alton. About one-haf the time has been wasted
in useless talk. Nopetty measure failed to bring
the obstructionists to the floor with diatory
motions and whatever they desired to advance
belonged generally to buncombe propositions
through which they hoped to retrieve their party
losses in the last campaign. So apparent has
been this desire that the speeches in many in
stances were ridiculously extravagant and un-
worthy of the in Intelligence of the men who made
them. This purpose to kill time and prevent
anything of an important or significant charac-
ter reaching final action, except something of
which Democrat was the author, led the Re-
publicans to bring the flibusters to a sharp turn
by using the previous question at the right time.
Since then the obstructionists have taken on a
spirit Of hypocritical humility in pretending an
anxiety az to o special session. Lately the
gentlemen who are directly responsible for the
delay have continued it by using every opportu-
nifty to show their seeming wish to hurry mat
ters along. A favorable position is to refer, by
implication, to apparent slowness in the matter
of reporting appropriations Within the week
the Democrats have manifested zeal in pushing
this feature of business to conclusion. but not
q murmur comes from them regarding the con-
tjnued refusal Of their party in the Senate to
ter into joint convention to elect State officers
1t is suggested that il the party was free from
. certain alleged agreement with Representative
Robinson, who is supposed to hold mortgage
on all the positions pertaining to the State
boards, the way of the Democratic transgressor
would rot be SO hard Upon such an agreement
they would go into joint convention with all
the nominations for trustees and State Librarian
1t the dictation Of ode man, whose vote was
necessary to give Judge Turpie So
called election as United States Senator.
While the Turpie men who are
actually minority Of the Democrats may be
willing to have the Robinson claim met. it is be-
lieved others protest vigorously against disturb
Ing the present regime. It is not that they
brought disaster to the party, but they are fear
full of risks in joint convention in making an
uphsaval that would give Republicans the
advantage. They reason that it is better to
bear the disgrace Of Encouragement than to let
the power that has been serviceable to them in
past campaigns be dessr eyed. II they were
certain of perpetuating partisan control OF the
institutions the Democrats would not hesitate a
moment to go into an election of these boards.
: Bat with Representative Robinson on pne hand
and the danger of the Republicans on the other.
1t has been decided to let this affair remain in
allegiance until some chance relief appears In
the meantime the Dem ccrats of the House are
expected TO pose as the industrious legislators
and by innuendo. parliamentary tactics and fill
clustering methods to cast reflection on the Re-
pubicans. 1t is done that In the event of
special session the Democrats may set up
howl from one end of the State to the other to
the effect "The business could have been COM
pleted in time had tne Republicans united with
us in forwarding legislation" This would be
VIGOROUSLY false, but tina Democracy Is not
scrupulous as to its methods, when threatening
emergencies demand desperate means.
@ The Republicans are not only ready. with the
bill. on appropr' atoms completed hight before
last, but with all other measures relating to the
finances of the State. Whilo openly expressing
desfre to have the committee ways and
means report at once, this would be done at a
time when it was certain the House could not act
iudiciously and fairly upon it, or when the prog
ress Of other mportant legislation would be dis.
turbed. Renewing these tactics, yesterday
morning, the flibusters met with a rebuff that
conveyed proof OF their assumed sin
certify in urging action at upon
the appropriations. Representative Gordon
in the midst of the regular order
Of business urged upon the House to call for a
report from the committee on ways and means.
H. H. t..<
asked for return of the 81 900 600 loan measure.
The committee. he said had the privilege to re-
port at any time and the loan bill ought to BE-
presented aud made the special order for to-day.
Putting this in the shape OF a motion Repre-
sentative Buckles moved to lay it on the table
=. There was no discussion energetic pressure in
either direction, but when Representative Cav
ems name was called on the yeas and nays he
promptly explained his vote by saying: ION the
9th of January the committee reported the loar
bill 1t was sent back to the committee, agar
reported to the House and for the second time
sent back to the committee. was ready to re
port it within a day or two, but there was sc
much other business that could not find ar
opportunity to do it properly when the bill
could meet with the consideration it ought t,
have. The chairman holds himself ready to re
port the bill when the House wants it.
Representative Kelsou, o Democrat of the pro
nounced type, in giving reasons for his vote L
TO lay the motion OF his fellow partisan on tn
table, said: II was not in favor OF recommit
ting the bill at any time. Because the gentle
man who wants to force it on the House favore
recommittal, vote aye. Beyond this Satul
day is not the day to consider measure SO i'm
portant II is doubtful whether the House will
have quorum" Representative Foley, anothe
Democrat. expressed his fullest confidence j
the chairman Of the committee. He believed
knew when it was proper to report the bill, ant
therefore, voted yea to lay the motion on tn
table to make the bill special order for Satu
day morning. Mr.. Gordons motion was defeate
by thirty majority and. at its close. Represent,
tive Caven said tho committee would report tn
appropriations and loan bill ut o'clock on Mo,
day afternoon.
One of the interesting contests of the sess;o
has been that of Fort Wryne to secure ii
School for the Feeble rnizded. That city startt
out with wish to b xve nothing but the Soldier